Showing results by author "Tom Raley" in All Categories

The world was not always as it is today. It was once a land of brave knights, fierce dragons, and grand wizards. Troubling times have come upon the kingdom, with raiders descending from the east, rumors of war in the south, and an aging monarch has left the land in turmoil. Twelve brave souls embark on a quest to save the kingdom and ascend to the throne. The bravest knights, the grandest wizard, and by invitation of the king, a commoner. All vie for the title of Conqueror. To be victorious, they must complete seven brutal tasks. Phillip, an ordinary farm boy, has always dreamed of ...

“I have found it, God help me, I have found it.” With this simple text the race is on across three continents to possess one of the greatest and most important treasures man has ever known. The Cloak, a collection of writings, letters, manuscripts and books belonging to Saint Paul. The same collection the Bible tells us Paul requested be brought to him by Timothy. What letters and manuscripts were included in the Cloak? What books did the Great Missionary carry with him and desire to have in Rome during his final days? The collection would be sought after by thousands, and worth ...

A collection of short stories by Tom Raley. Each story follows a detective as they work against the clock, against ruthless killers, and against impossible odds to solve each case before more innocent people are forced to endure more pain. Each clue, each tidbit of information can mean the difference between success and failure, between life and death.

Cheryl Belzer is starting a new job, working for the best private detective in the city who retired from the police department after suffering a horrific injury. He also just happens to be a self-proclaimed sexist. These stories follow two of the earliest cases Cheryl works with Timber.

Stories as diverse as the people, creatures, and places of the 3rd Kingdom itself. A common woodland Fairy’s journey of discovery, an ancient rite of passage forgotten to all but a few. A treacherous journey to the remote sea canyon to witness the dance of the mermaids, to join in the festivities of life itself. An epistolary tale of Flueric, the first and some say most powerful wizard of any age. How did wizards come to be? Who was Flueric before his powers? What led him to a life of solitude, despair, and some say evil? His life was not a simple one, nor was it pleasant, even before the...

A collection of 13 short stories of the unusual, bizarre, and unpredictable....

The city is firmly held in the grip of fear as a serial killer lurks in the shadows, claiming a new victim each week. The killer preys on young women with seemingly nothing in common except to have somehow caught his eye. With the discovery of each new victim the city descends deeper into the shadows, consumed by the desire to escape the killer's grip. The efforts of the police task force is complicated by the appearance of a copycat killer, a news leak from one of their own, and little to no physical evidence.

Airien, wife of King Felix II, mother of King Felix III, never dreamed of ruling the kingdom. She was quite content to be the queen, mother, and confidant to the king. Fate, it would seem, had other plans. When the king is assassinated, Airien finds herself forced into a role she never wanted. Now, to protect the infant prince, her own life, and the future of the kingdom, Airien must take her place on the throne. The times are troubled and filled with uncertainty, treachery, and famine. Airien is a strong, intelligent, and vibrant woman, but her enemies are many, clever, and ruthless. ...

Four convicted killers, all sentenced to death, await their fate in the horrific confines of the northern dungeons. Life is brutal and hope all but extinguished when they are summoned before the governor. Expecting their sentences to be carried out, they instead find the governor struggling with a moral dilemma. Who has the right to take the life of another? The governor, under intense pressure from the magistrates and his own daughter, decides on a most unconventional solution. He will allow fate to decide who lives, and who dies. The Northern territory's annual festival is underway, and ...

For more than a thousand years the King’s Knights have defended the 3rd Kingdom. An extension of the King’s power and authority, these brave men face any foe without hesitation. In all their glorious history never have they allowed a woman to join their ranks. This tradition stands in the way of Myca’s dream of becoming a knight. She posses the skills, the bravery and the determination, but she is denied the opportunity to prove herself worthy. Unwilling to simply accept her fate, Myca sets out on a grand quest to prove herself not only to her oppressors, the village bullies and the ...

Every tale must have an end, every journey a destination. For Phillip and Jared, the conclusion of their partnership is fraught with danger and intrigue. Conqueror is a story of adventure, friendship, and bravery. Through their travels and adventures, Phillip and Jared have learned a great deal about each other, themselves, and life. Now join them as they embark to complete the Final Demand. A demand that, if completed, could propel Phillip to the throne. The duo must travel to the remote Mount Pascal. Harsh, desolate, and deadly, the mountain is home to any number of evils. Escape is all ...

The outpost is the most remote and isolated in the kingdom, secluded and unreachable for much of the year. Battered by unforgiving winter storms and the devil’s wind, the outpost is home to a most unusual and unique group. These men and women, shunned by society and their own families, outcasts and criminals, desire only to go unnoticed in the frozen wasteland. In a land ruled by snow bears, wolves, and the bitter winter, life can be harsh and often quite short. Each winter, the vicious winds drive ships to their doom along the rocky northern shores. These wrecks rarely leave survivors ...

Time is short, the dangers are real, and the enemy is closer than ever before in this Epic Fantasy by #1 Bestselling author Tom Raley. In his continuing fight to be named Conqueror, Phillip must summon up all his strength and courage if he is to have any hopes of completing his two new demands. He expected difficulty, hardships, sacrifice, and pain; he had never expected to fall in love.... The Conqueror series continues as Phillip struggles to complete two additional demands in his quest to be king. Time is against him as he goes north in search of a Stone Pearl, which can only be found in...

The Epic Conqueror quest continues with more adventure, danger, and fascinating characters. After successfully completing his first demand, Phillip is heading south to the Canyon District in hopes of completing his second. The Crown of Cenus was thrown into the Canyon decades ago and despite extensive searching, has never been found. If the legend is true, the crown was found by a cave troll who took the treasure and fled into the fog. In the deepest recesses of the Canyon the fog is said to be home to a great evil. It is said the only thing that escapes the fog are the stories and legends ...

Every tale has a beginning. The Third Kingdom, the greatest and most powerful kingdom of our day, is no different. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, the new kingdom was born from the ashes of centuries of warfare and destruction. From the two old kingdoms, destroyed by hate, envy, and greed, came a group of brave pioneers. Twelve brave knights lead their families into the dangerous unknown in search of a pass no one is certain even exists. They must endure barren, hostile lands teaming with disease, curses, bloodthirsty raiders, inhuman creatures, and the evilest of all, the White ...

Most know nothing of the Nawkers, which is not at all surprising. They are one of three tribes of little folk and make their home deep in the northern mountains. Timid, reclusive, and if we are being honest, not especially memorable. An adult Nawker will only reach the average man’s waist, perhaps an inch or so taller. They are not known to be fast or agile, and not especially strong either. The Nawkers don’t use money, don’t mine for jewels, and in reality, have nothing the outside world would consider of any real worth. Which, as chance would have it, is precisely the way the ...